First Test: England v South Africa, Lord's, July 6-10.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Been a pretty predictable batting day for England so far, a few wickets down for not alot in the morning session, then Root and Stokes embarking on the recovery, and Root makes a daddy hundred. A well established pattern.

Not sure why everyone was so worried at 12.30pm!

[rich1uk]

50 for Ali

need these 2 to get through the new ball tho with not much left after them

[Arthur Crabtree]

Been a pretty predictable batting day for England so far, a few wickets down for not alot in the morning session, then Root and Stokes embarking on the recovery, and Root makes a daddy hundred. A well established pattern.

Not sure why everyone was so worried at 12.30pm!

Sort of, except Root gets a lot of criticism for not converting his starts into big hundreds, but he's done just that today.

Fifty for Mo. Makes the decision to move him down the order after a great batting year and two tons in India look less justifiable.

Suspect England will rue not having a more enterprising spinner on this pitch. I fancy Mo to do a bit more that Dawson on most days, so a problem that he's not had any bowling.

[rich1uk]

Been a pretty predictable batting day for England so far, a few wickets down for not alot in the morning session, then Root and Stokes embarking on the recovery, and Root makes a daddy hundred. A well established pattern.

Not sure why everyone was so worried at 12.30pm!

Sort of, except Root gets a lot of criticism for not converting his starts into big hundreds, but he's done just that today.

Fifty for Mo. Makes the decision to move him down the order after a great batting year and two tons in India look less justifiable.

Suspect England will rue not having a more enterprising spinner on this pitch. I fancy Mo to do a bit more that Dawson on most days, so a problem that he's not had any bowling.

who would you bat below Ali then AC ?

with Stokes and Ali in the team someone has to bat at #7

[Arthur Crabtree]

Don't mind the keeper at six, but given Stokes is in the side, I'd bat Bairstow at seven. Different if he's batter only.

Not enough depth in the SA attack.

[rich1uk]

Don't mind the keeper at six, but given Stokes is in the side, I'd bat Bairstow at seven. Different if he's batter only.

Not enough depth in the SA attack.

but then you could make the same argument that its a waste of Bairstow, coming off a year where he averaged close to 60, to have him bat at #7

we should be happy we have someone of Ali's quality batting that deep

team > individual

[rich1uk]

was just about to post what Bumble has said on commentary, thats 160 runs in this session, been a long couple of hours for the SA bowlers

[budgetmeansbudget]

Sort of, except Root gets a lot of criticism for not converting his starts into big hundreds, but he's done just that today..

I've been criticized on here for being uncritical about that fact. He's got so much credit in the bank for me I tend to overlook/forget his leaner periods.

[rich1uk]

Root's scored his last 100 runs off just 89 balls

[Arthur Crabtree]

Stunning number of runs in the day and excellent recovery for England. Seems there's nothing in the pitch.

Seems I agree with Boycott about Bairstow at seven. :(

[rich1uk]

Stunning number of runs in the day and excellent recovery for England. Seems there's nothing in the pitch.

Seems I agree with Boycott about Bairstow at seven.

i wouldn't have a problem whatever order Stokes, Ali and Bairstow bat tbh

all i was saying is one of them has to bat there and you could make a good case for any of them to bat higher than the other two

[rich1uk]

wouldn't have put much money on us being 357-5 at close when we were 4 down at lunch

good support from Stokes and Ali but Root has just been a class apart

[andy]

Defo on top after day 1. Class from Root, quality from Moeen...can we get to 500? Or more!

[budgetmeansbudget]

Root sounds and looks really rough in his post innings interview.

Probably stress of his first test as Captain has run the poor lad down and he's picked up a bug.

[Arthur Crabtree]

This is a great read for anyone who was around in the nineties.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/ ... 8-the-spin